We Tried It! SoHo Strength Lab

A few months ago, I noticed something — or, rather, the absence of something — at my regular gym, the Equinox in SoHo: Three trainers I had seen nearly every day for the past year-and-a-half were suddenly gone. I didn’t think much of it — perhaps they had moved on to another gym or had gone their separate ways, but then fate stepped in. Through the grapevine, I found out that the three missing trainers had left to start their own, brand-new fitness concept studio just around the corner. Enter my newest discovery: SoHo Strength Lab.

Soho Strength Lab takes personal fitness training to a whole new level, while also bringing it back to its roots. Started by three former college athletes — Ryan Hopkins, Albert Matheny, and Andy Speer — SSL aims to bring out your inner athlete by utilizing various equipment as well as two floors of indoor astroturf “field.” Obviously, we all want to look and feel better, and those are probably the most motivating factors in getting us to the gym, but who wouldn’t want to also “perform” better in daily life?

I’m talking about not being winded after running up the subway steps during your morning commute, mastering the eternal challenge of walking comfortably in your new 5-inch Charlotte Olympia heels (yes, you read that right), and being able to carry that impossibly chic but heavy leather handbag while maintaining the posture of a runway model. Combining all of their knowledge and experience from years of training (as athletes and one-on-one personal trainers), Ryan, Albert and Andy can literally make your life easier, while making you look good in the process. What’s not to like about that?

You’ll find products by Aesop, Australia’s cult organic beauty brand in the locker room. And, this week they're launching the Manhattan outpost of Williamsburg juice bar, Grass Roots Juicery.

At the moment, SSL offers personal training, and small group bootcamp classes with no more than eight to ten people per class, so you can count on individualized attention (and, for anyone used to crowded gym classes, plenty of personal space!).